We have been subjected to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) as children. The trauma of that day still remains with us. FGM/C is a procedure that intentionally alters or causes injury to the genital organs of girls and women for non-medical reasons.

Like us, thousands of our Bohra sisters in India and overseas have also been subjected to FGM/C. It is called Khatna/Khafz in our community. For hundreds of years this practice is being continued under a shroud of secrecy and silence and no one outside of the Bohra community even knew of its existence. Even today young bohra girls aged 7 or even younger sometimes are taken secretly and subject to FGM/C.

Because of the secrecy, FGM/C is ignored by Indian authorities. The Government has no data about FGM and does not recognize it as an urgent issue.

For years, Bohra women have been too scared to speak out about FGM. But now under the banner of Speak Out On FGM Bohra women are uniting and speaking out against FGM/C so that our daughters and sisters do not suffer this horrible procedure.

The United Nations has declared FGM/C as a human rights violation and provides support to anti-FGM campaigners around the world. Because of this support many African countries have banned FGM.

10th Dec marks an end to the global 16 days campaign of ending violence against women and girls. FGM/C is an act of violence, physical, emotional, psychological, please help us in eradicating this practice from India.

Sign our petition and ask the UN to recognize India as a country where FGM is practiced.

With the UN recognition, we the Bohra women will be able to make official appeals to the Indian government.

This will have a huge impact on the lives of young vulnerable Bohra girls.